An elderly Victorian couple are lucky to be alive following a horrific car accident, which left them trapped in their mangled vehicle for over an hour.
At approximately 11am yesterday morning the couple, towing a caravan, were travelling north along the New England Highway. As the caravan passed a semi trailer 13km north of Glen Innes the wind turbulence from the truck affected the caravan causing the 69-year-old female driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The car and caravan left the roadside and collided with a tree, causing the vehicle to flip onto its side, trapping the occupants.
The driver was trapped by her seatbelt unable to be released due to the danger of her falling on top of her 67-year-old husband who was trapped underneath her.
The scene was attended by three police patrol cars, two ambulances units, the Glen Innes VRA, the Glen Innes Fire Brigade unit and the NSW Rural Fire Service from Glen Innes and Tenterfield. Part of the highway was blocked for about 20 minutes while the Westpac Rescue Helicopter landed. Two crew members attended the scene while the helicopter refuelled in Glen Innes. The roadway was again blocked as the helicopter returned to transport the female occupant to Tamworth Base Hospital with suspected pelvic injuries. She is reported to be in a stable condition. The male occupant of the car was conveyed to Glen Innes and District hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.